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Compass Access Solutions is proud of the work we do in the oil and gas matting industry. We want to keep our customers informed on the projects we are working on, as well as educate visitors on the innovation and events happening within our company.

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7Jun2017

Equipment Checks: A Vital Part of OHS

If you’ve read our previous blog on our annual safety stand-down, you’ll know that Compass takes safety seriously. From educating new recruits to continuously reviewing and updating procedures, Compass knows just how important OHS standards are in the workplace. Through our partnership with Andrew Lamouroux from Brogan Safety, our in house safety team has been working harder than ever to ensure that all safety equipment is up to date and being used to the best advantage. Making sure that your team is equipped with the best tools for the job helps keep everyone secure and reduces the chances of workplace hazards. Read on to learn some quick tips and tricks you can use to make sure your safety equipment is ready to go!

Have the best tools for the job, not just the mandated ones

The Government of Canada has a well-defined list of regulations for on-site safety practices. Step one to make any worksite safe is ensuring that your materials, equipment, and training are up to code for your particular job. Having a dedicated team of in-house professionals, and ensuring that any contractors you partner with are compliant, will help you stay on top of industry and regulation changes. Once that baseline is established, it’s important to have two other variables in place:

Policies that guarantee the correct use of PPE

A crew that is well equipped to address any other, “minimal” safety hazards. Your team should be well versed enough in a “safety-first” mentality that they proactively bring (or are provided with) materials to combat additional hazards such as sunscreen to reduce the risk of sunburns and water to prevent dehydration. Why? Simply put, if your team isn’t at their best, they’re more likely to make mistakes and forget a piece of personal protection equipment in the moment. Remember, proactively is one of the best ways to stop incidents from occurring in the first place!

Check your equipment regularly

Inspection your equipment on a consistent schedule, as well as in the moment prevents incidents, injuries and the spread of illness. Though it can often be tempting under a time constraint to assume that your “reliable” tools are in order, looking safety equipment should never be an afterthought. Just like other materials, equipment can degrade over time, particularly when regularly exposed to adverse conditions. To make sure it’s able to do its job and keep you safe, your PPE and other tools need to be inspected often. Some general guidelines to have in mind are:

Know the typical lifespan of the product and ensure you adhere to repair replacement and upkeep standards. Items like fire extinguishers, monitors, respirators, etc. all have strict guidelines to maintain optimal performance. By falling behind, you place both yourself and your crew at risk.

Document your inspections. The purpose for this is two-fold. Recording allows you to note the last date of review, and to record any changes or issues that occurred. This information is vital to OHS best practices and sets your team up for success.

Know when to replace PPE

Employers and employees not only have a duty to use appropriate PPE, but to also to ensure it is in working order. PPE is designed to protect wearers against a variety of undesirable conditions, meaning that by nature, it’s subject to a lot more wear and tear than other equipment. Items displaying and visible deficiencies including scratches, holes, thinning of material, or soiling that cannot be safely cleaned should be disposed of and replaced immediately. As with other safety items, attention should be paid to the general lifespan of the individual product. Finally, make sure your PPE is up to date. If there are better tools for the job that will increase your overall safety, make sure your team is equipped and trained properly to prepare for any product transitions.

On-site safety is a core part of life at Compass. Contact us today to learn more about our practices and how we can assist you with all your matting solution needs.